Familiar Places and Autistic Kids

Posted by Lynn Moore Mar 30, 2008

Of course, autistic kids (like all kids) must encounter new places, new routines, and new people from time to time. That is the subject for a different blog post. The key here is to be aware of the importance of familiarity when dealing with behavior or when communicating expectations.

Here is what I mean. I planned to go to the conference. I could picture the route to get there. I could picture where to park and what the building looked like from the outside. I could envision going in to the auditorium. I knew how it would be set up. . .and even where the bathrooms were. Last year I did not know any of that information. My attendance last year was much more focused on learning my way around. I could not concentrate to the same depth on what the speakers were saying. I was concentrating on what I would do next, where I would go.

Isn’t that true for kids on the autism spectrum as well? They just can’t focus so much on what we are saying or what we expect them to do in a new situation. Instead, they are just trying to check everything out.

Think about a familiar situation you have. Then think about expectations for your child. It all makes more sense now. Join me in a discussion of familiarity and kids on the autism spectrum.